About 30 000 ostriches will be stunned by a powerful electric shock and then shot with a single bullet to the brain from a specialised pistol, as mass culling of infected birds gets under way on Tuesday.
The birds are being culled following an outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
”This is the safest and most humane way to cull [the ostriches],” said Jan Greyling, spokesperson for the Klein Karoo Group, which represents producers of ostrich meat and ostrich products such as leather and feathers.
Greyling said that should an international ban put in place banning exports of poultry and poultry products abroad last longer than 30 days, it could cost the industry more than R100-million in exports.
Greyling said speculation in local media reports that the outbreak was not confined to the Somerset East district, but could have originated outside the quarantine zone in Middleton, was ”mere speculation”.
”We have spoken to the editor of Die Burger newspaper and asked for more responsible reporting,” said Greyling.
Greyling said they were ”positive” that the culling of the birds in the Eastern Cape will be restricted to the Somerset East area.
Meanwhile, Anton Kruger, the general manager of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, said they were meeting Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza on Tuesday to discuss possible compensation for farmers affected by the culling.
Kruger said farmers needed clarity as to the ”formula and process” followed when awarding compensation.
”This depends on the strain of the virus and the extent of the outbreak,” he said.
Kruger said the strain had not been identified ”100%” and results from a foreign laboratory were still outstanding.
According to Mahlangu Seogati, Agriculture Department spokesperson, the minister will meet farmers and operational teams containing the disease.
Seogati said on the question of compensation that they will be guided by the Animal Diseases Act, which contained a provision for compensation.
He said the issue of the origin of the disease was still being investigated. – Sapa